Methods of delivery and resuscitation of very-low-birthweight infants in Victoria: 1982-1985.
This article describes the patterns of delivery and resuscitation for very-low-birthweight infants who were born in Victoria from 1982 to 1985. Caesarean delivery rates increased from 15% to 30% for infants of birthweights of 500-999 g, and from 39% to 52% for infants of birthweights of 1000-1499 g. In level-III hospitals, the proportion of live-born infants who did not receive active resuscitation fell from 32% to 18% for those who weighed 500-999 g, and from 28% to 15% for those who weighed 1000-1499 g. Time trends over the four years showed the management of very-low-birthweight infants to be in a state of rapid transition in all birth settings. At the same time there was a fall in the still-birth rate of infants of birthweights of 500-999 g. Still-births rates for infants of birthweights of 1000-1499 g remained unchanged, as did neonatal mortality rates in both weight groups.
Lumley
J
J
Perinatal Data Collection Unit, Health Department Victoria, Melbourne.
Kitchen
W H
WH
Roy
R N
RN
Yu
V Y
VY
Drew
J H
JH
D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000639:trends; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria